Display rack



July 4, 1939 L. l.. LEVERING 2,165,108Y

DISPLAY RA'cxh Filed Oct. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lll ATToNY INVENTol- L. Lever/I7 July 4, 1939. L. l.. LEVERING 2,165,108

DISPLAY RACK Filed Oct. 2l, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 |NvENToR L, Leve/wy ,.l, V. ATTORNEY Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an apparatus for displaying fabric samples and more particularly for displaying clothing materials which are to be made up into wearing apparel.

It is customary for tailor and like shops to provide show rooms for the presentation to prospective purchasers of different types of materials to be made into clothing, The samples of materials are shown in varying sizes, but regardless of the size of the samples shown, it is difficult for the purchaser to picture the garment as it will appear when in nished condition.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a device to aid a purchaser in visualizing the characteristics of a completed garment when viewing only a sample of material from which the garment is to be made.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a display rack in conjunction with the visualizing apparatus having arms to which various samples of material may be attached, the arms being movable in the nature of the leaves of a book, whereby a great number of samples may be displayed; and to provide the Visualizer with means rendering it engageable over any of the arms carrying a particular sample of material to furnish a display of both front and back views of a garment as it will appear when completed.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display rack provided with visualizers embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the display rack showing the back View of the mans figure illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the display rack showing the assembly of the pivoted arms on a rack and their susceptibility to movement in the nature of the leaves of a book.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3, particularly illustrating the pivot points of one of the arms on the rack and the diagonal brace for the arm.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of an upper corner of the rack, part of the angle members being broken away to show the pivot points for the arms and the connection of the angle members to the side rails of the base.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of an arm member to which samples of clothing material are attached and over which a pair of connected visualizers are hung to display the material in the form of garment desired.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the hinged panels or visualizers which are hung over the arms car- 5 rying the materials to display the completed form of garment.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates an apparatus for displaying fabric samples generally comprising an upright pedestal, 10 standard, support or base 2, substantially horizontally disposed arm members 3 pivotally mounted on the base, and a pair of hinged panels or visualizers 4 engageable over the respective arms and having transparent portions to dis- 15 play clothing materials 5 secured to the arms in such a manner as to resemble a garment made up from the particular material displayed.

The standard 2 includes feet 6 of any suitable material of a size large enough to rigidly support 20 upwardly extending side members 'I. Rails 8 are provided coextensively with the rear edges of the side members on the inside faces thereof, the rails having their upper ends terminating short of the upper ends of the side members and suit- 2g,V

ably secured thereto throughout the length thereof, Seated on the upper ends of the rails 8 is a bracing cross member 9 of any suitable design to enhance both the rigidity and appearance of the base. A bracing cross member I0 may also 30 be interposed between the side members adjacent the feet of the base for additionally supporting same.

suitably iiXed to the rails 8 in vertically spaced relation to each other and at points substantially 35 above the mid-portion of the rails are brackets I I to which are welded or otherwise suitably secured at the upper edges thereof upper and lower rack bars I2 and I3 which extend laterally between the rails B in parallel relation to each 40 other.

The rack bars preferably comprise angle irons having front flanges I4 which extend downwardly to form aprons and top anges I5 extending horizontally relative to the base which are provided with holes I6 spaced laterally from each other in accurate vertical alignment.

Mounted in the holes I 6 of the upper horizontal rack bar and ordinarily hidden from view by the apron are pivot pins Il of arm supporting plates I3, the plates being formed by flattening the greater portion of the pins I'I and bending them at substantially right angles thereto. The plates I8 supportthe inner ends of cloth supporting arms I9, which are preferably formed Aof wood and are ofra size suitable for displaying a pants length of material, in pivotal condition relative to the rack bar. The outer ends 20 of the arms areprovided with bracing rods 2| on the under faces thereof which are secured to the arms by plates 22 formed by flattening the rods at their upper ends and extending fastening devices therethrough and into the arms I9. The rods' 2| Vare then bent downwardly to extend diagonally in thesame vertical planes as the pairs of vertically aligned holes I6 in the rack bars and are then bent further downwardly at their ends to` provide pivot pins 23 engageable in holes in the lower rack directly below the pivot points at the inner ends of the arms.

It is thus apparent that a swinging movement is provided for the arms so that they maybe turned in the nature of thejleaves of` a book.

Mounted on the arms I9 are pieces or samples 24 of material which are secured to the arms inanyisuitable manner, hereshown as by thumbtacks 25. Y

As shown irr-Fig..4, the pieces of fabric hang downwardly in substantially ver-tical planes. It isobviousfthat the` piecesof fabric may also be folded overthearms, in whichcasethe ends of the fabric also hang downwardly over the arms in substantially,v verticaliplanes, which ends may be easily. arrangedto hang inV equal lengths.

With the. constructionthusrfar described materials may; be effectively displayed. When, however, the, materialsvv are tov be used for clothing such, asg mens andr womens, suits, Ydresses and o vercoats, it is diicult; for a. prospective purchaser. tovisualize the` garment asit will appear whenmadexupinto a-,finished article of wearing apparel.

I, therefore, provide panels. 26 of any suitable material, for example Celluloid or. some similar regeneratedl cellulose.Y composition of a size to substantially cover, the respective samples on display on ther pivotedf arms. 'I'he upper ends of thel panels are secured together to provide ar hingeflike structure, asshown at 2., Vso that a pair. ofthe connectedpanels may be suspended over. an individualarm carrying samples of materia]A to, show they sampleson both sides of the arm. I.. preferably secure the ends of the panels together byn a strip of leather, or the like, but it is. to. be understood. that a pairl of clips, or some similar device;v may be used. to attach the panelsinsuch ainanner that. they may be suspended over any of the arms. The hinged panels `are respectively, pr.ovided,.preferably` on the insidefaces thereof, withoutlines for representationsof` frontY and rear views of the figure of a man woman wearing any suitable model suit dresser. coat. The figures are outlined by an opaque substance, such as paint or the like, asat..28insuch.a manner. that the effect is that of an opaque panel with transparent portions showing-the gures onthe panels.

The details of construction ofthe particular Vgarment,.for example, its lapels, 29, pocket aps 30, buttons 3|, cuffs 32, belt 33, collar 34 and the like, may be painted onithe panel in their proper positions with suitable colors and xity in order to permit ready alteration thereof incidental to changes in current fashions and seasons. The face 35, hands 36, neck 3l, accessories and shoes 38 of the figures may be painted in their proper places for permanent fixation in proper opaque colors in order to enhance the appearance of the figure outlined on the panel and to portray a fully dressed person wearing a Vgarment suitable to the prospective purchaser in the pattern and grade of material of the customers choice.

It is thus apparent that the customer may easilyvisualize the appearance of the finished garment he is about to' order by merely viewing the outlined fabric through the transparent portionsv of the panels, when the panels are placed over the pieces of fabric, so that he may avoid mistakes in selection and later dissatisfaction with the completed garment. The saleswork ofthe person making thefsale will also be materially lessenedf for thefreasonl that fewer detailsconcerning the Vgarment will. haveto. loe explained to the purchaser.

In operatinga. device constructed as described,

having in mind that` aprospective purchaser. is`

viewing a particularl .sample of material suspended. from one ofthe pivoted` arms, the hinged panel iis hung astraddle the Aarmand the front and. rear outlines` of. a. chosen figure. overlie the material tov` reveal or ,depict a` humanv figure clothed` in a garment of. that` particular material Y as it willappearI when completed.

The same sample of. material may be on-both sides ofthe pivoted arm,.in.which case that arm may be moved` back and. forth in. thenature of one of the leaves of a book to display the front and back portions of. the` garment illustratedon the panels, fthus permitting the customery to visualize, before ordering=how the garment will look when made up.

What I claim and desire to` secure byv Letters Patent is:

In an apparatus of the character described, a supporty resting on aY door, and comprising asubstantiallyV horizontalf membervspaced` from the oonapiece of fabric folded-over the horizontal member at a point substantially midway: the length. of. the. piece. of fabric, apair of panels each. having. atransparentY portionr outlined by frontV and rear representations respectively ofA 

